U of U Receives $7 Million Gift from Spencer F. and Cleone P. Eccles

U of U Receives $7 Million Gift from Spencer F. and Cleone P. Eccles

Apr 16, 2005 6:00 PM

University of Utah President Michael K. Young last night
announced a personal gift of $7 million from U alumni
Spencer and Cleone Eccles. This gift, committed
confidentially last summer, provides major funding for the new,
state-of-the-art Health Sciences Education Building for the Us
nationally ranked medical, nursing, pharmacy, and health training
programs. The gift was announced by Young at a dinner capping off a
week-long celebration on his inauguration as the 14th president of
the University of Utah.

The Spencer F. and Cleone P. Eccles Health Sciences Education
Building, to be completed in August, is a five-story, 158,000
square foot facility that will provide much needed classrooms,
labs, and training facilities. The design incorporates
multi-purpose space that will serve the needs of all students,
regardless of specialty, with major emphasis on promoting
interdisciplinary learning among future health-care
professionals.

The generosity of Spence and Cleone Eccles to Utah, and
especially to their alma mater, is truly remarkable, said President
Young. Coupled with their personal involvement and commitment to
the University, it makes an even greater impact on our capacity for
excellence.

He added, On a personal note, I am honored to announce this
exciting gift in conjunction with my Inauguration. This magnificent
gift ensures that Utahs next generation of health-care providers
will receive an excellent education at one of the countrys leading
universities.

A skybridge will connect the new building with the adjacent
Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library, named for Eccles father
in 1965. The library was constructed with a generous bequest from
the senior Eccles, and his wife, Hope Fox Eccles, and represents
the first major gift from the Eccles family to the University of
Utah.

According to Eccles, Its been heartening over the past 40 years,
since dads gift to the library, to see the excellence that the
Health Sciences Center has achieved. We feel it truly has had a
significant impact throughout our state. Now, Cleone and I are
delighted to participate, with the great faculty and students, as
the Health Sciences Center continues to provide an outstanding
education to our health care providers .

The new Spencer F. and Cleone P. Eccles Health Sciences
Education Building will be the centerpiece of the academic programs
at the Health Sciences Center, said A. Lorris Betz., M.D.,
Ph.D., senior vice president for Health Sciences and executive dean
of the Us School of Medicine. The skybridge which connects this new
facility and the library will not only benefit our university, but
is also symbolic of the continuum of support we have received from
Spence and Cleone and their family.

According to Associate Vice President for Health Sciences
Linda K. Amos, This building replaces teaching facilities
dating to the 1950's and the students are anxiously awaiting its
completion. It will encourage collaboration among students and
faculty with greater access to the resources of the library,
classrooms, and teaching labs, which is essential to their world
class training.

The $40 million building is being funded through a major state
appropriation in addition to the $7 million gift from the Eccles.
Other private donations from faculty, staff, friends, and alumni
have also been earmarked for specialized areas within the facility.
The official opening for the building is planned for August 31.

The building features 40 classrooms with a variety of electronic
features including wireless internet access and distance learning
capabilities. In addition, the facility will house multiple
laboratory training areas and exam rooms where Utahs future
physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, therapists
and other health professionals can be observed and critiqued by
faculty members.

Also housed in the new facility will be the Universitys dental
program and informatics program (a joint program of the School of
Medicine and the College of Nursing). In addition, the facility
will feature a 100-seat cafe, a bookstore, and underground
parking.

More information about the building, including a virtual tour,
can be found at
http://uuhsc.utah.edu/virtualtour/hseb/hsebatrium.html .